IndieReader Discovery Awards 2025 Entrants
Added as our reviewers read them, find the latest verdicts for the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Award entrants, leading up to the big winner announcement in June!
LYING DOWN WITH DOGS by Linda Caradine is a heartfelt memoir comprising interrelated essays that chronicle her journey in establishing and managing Other Mothers Animal Rescue. Caradine offers readers an intimate glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of animal rescue, sharing vivid anecdotes ranging from rescuing kittens beneath houses to securing sanctuary for pigs. Her narrative comes across as effortless, intertwining personal experiences, including overcoming childhood trauma and navigating life’s adversities, highlighting the profound impact animals have had on her path to redemption.
SUNDRI AND MUNDRI’S LOHRI ADVENTURE by Reenita Malhotra Hora is a charming blend of history, culture, and magic that transports readers on an unforgettable journey. With inventive problem-solving, a daring rescue, and delightful references to Lohri traditions, the story is a perfect celebration of bravery, family, and heritage.
The fantasy novel DESULTI, by Ross Hightower and Deb Heim, is one of the prequel novels to Hightower’s Spirit Songs Saga. The Desulti are women who escaped from the Empire and established themselves on their own terms. Tove, who has worked with the resistance since realm walker Alar rescued her, agrees to go with the murtair (warrior) Brie to seek sanctuary with the Desulti. The prospect of belonging to a community of women who support each other is intoxicating. The worldbuilding in the story is strong and the characters engaging while the machinations, plots, and counterplots are well-detailed and distinct. DESULTI is a page-turning, well-written fantasy novel, part of the Spirit Song Saga, but capable of standing proudly and independently.
THE CHOSEN ONE by Andrés Álvarez is a compelling fable that intertwines historical fiction with self-improvement principles. Inspired by the Spanish conquest of the Americas, the book offers twelve universal ideas for pleasure, fulfillment, and personal transformation. Rich in historic detail and fascinating storytelling, it provides readers with both an immersive tale and significant life lessons, making it a thought-provoking read.
Abby Reilly’s riveting mystery BLOOD PROMISES combines familial ties, legal conflict, and a persistent search of justice. As Detective Trish Malone and her colleagues work through a complicated investigation with high stakes for each character, the author keeps readers interested with its incisive conversation and captivating characters. This edition in the Promises Mystery Series is a gripping read due to the deft blending of suspense and its emotional depth.
Abby Reilly’s CHOICE OR CHANCE is a gripping political thriller that combines family drama, power battles, and intrigue. The novel delves into the high-stakes world of political campaigns, incorporating suspense and unexpected developments through vividly drawn characters and sharp dialogue. Set against the backdrop of a heated election, it keeps readers interested with a riveting plot and incisive insights about ambition and duplicity.
In GRAPPLING, a series of short stories inspired by real clients and events, Robert E. Kaplan takes a different approach than in his previous books, including THE VERSATILE LEADER. He takes events and people inspired by life and uses fiction to demonstrate the needs for and the attempts to change, based on his experience as a leadership advisor. Each short story/case study stands on its own. Sometimes the coach/advisor speaks in the first person; other times the entire story is in the third. The different ways these executives struggle with their challenges, both professionally and personally is often fascinating, as is the inside look on how the corporations run, and the toll it takes on those working within them. GRAPPLING can be a useful teaching tool for change to those struggling in the corporate leadership world.
RED AND ME by Terry Lee Caruthers is a captivating and heartwarming narrative that vividly brings to life the resilient spirit of its characters and the rich tapestry of small-town life. The book’s engaging portrayal of a young girl’s enduring bond with her dog, combined with its evocative descriptions and memorable local color, makes it a compelling read that resonates with authenticity.
DAMAGED BEAUTY:JOEY SUPERSTAR by Margaret Gardiner is a story of love, power, and self-destruction, played out against the glittering, yet ruthless, world of the fashion industry. With psychological insight, the novel uncovers the inner turmoil of a woman fighting for her identity and agency in a society that reduces women to their beauty. Gardiner creates an emotional and immersive narrative that stays with the reader long after the last page.
Being true to oneself is a way of finding that special path meant for us—THE YEAR OF SLUTTERY (is author Scarlett D. Jones’ way of forging her own way in today’s online dating world. Times have changed but people haven’t, as past-middle-age folks still do the dance for love and companionship. With its share of explicit and racy passages, THE YEAR OF SLUTTERY is a fun read.
THE PRISONER AND THE TRAITOR by H. M. Richardson is an enthralling start to the Tower of the Deep series, blending immersive storytelling and emotional depth to explore fierce loyalties, betrayal, and the clash of two vastly different worlds involving fourteen-year-old Hennelyn (raised among the warlike Starkhons) and her adopted brother, Arcmas. Hennelyn questions her people’s brutal conquest of the peaceful Bunji when she frees a captured prisoner, branding herself a traitor, while Arcmas (a winged warrior created as a weapon) returns from war, hardened by his training to subdue the Bunji—until Hennelyn deceives him to free yet another prisoner, hoping to open his eyes to the truth. This novel masterfully explores identity, duty, and the transformative power of empathy as Hennelyn and Arcmas struggle to choose between the paths set before them and the uncertain cost of forging their own destiny.
BULLYPROOF offers a nuanced look at “dysfunctional dominance” in our society, and concludes that alpha personalities are both misunderstood, and misunderstand themselves. Using his “Motivational Currency Calculator,” author Rob Fazio gives readers a chance to assess and analyze their own drivers, with a view to making themselves “bully-proof,” and use their own power to better themselves, others, and society.
In the cutthroat realm of winemaking, Donald Sheagley’s THE GLACIER BAY MURDERS offers an interesting blend of mystery and wine culture, spinning together intrigue and dishonesty. As secrets are revealed, readers are captivated by the story’s captivating protagonist, Hunter Kingsley, and its masterfully constructed location on an Alaskan cruise. Its distinctive fusion of crime, industry politics, and scenic adventure will appeal to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a hint of suspense.
AT EASE is a richly informative guide to transitioning from a career in the military to a civilian work life. Drawing on years of professional experience, author Emily King details the philosophical as well as practical differences between the two work spheres, and emphasizes that switching from one to the other can be a lot more complicated than simply polishing up the resume – but that the change is not only navigable, but profitable.
Mark Workman’s FOREVER WE DREAM is quite the imaginative young adult novel that blends 1970s nostalgia with a deeply emotional coming-of-age story. Set against the backdrop of America’s disco era, the narrative follows conjoined triplets—Elliana, Bellamona, and Gabriella—as they navigate the challenges of adolescence, identity, and the pursuit of their long-lost mother. Their journey leads them to a televised music competition where their shared passion for singing becomes a beacon of hope and a means to reconnect with their past. Workman masterfully crafts a story that deals with themes of sisterhood, resilience, and the quest for belonging. The triplets’ unique bond and individual personalities are portrayed with depth and sensitivity, allowing readers to connect with their struggles and triumphs. The novel also introduces a compelling antagonist in Twyla-Violet, a former child model whose rivalry adds tension and complexity to the narrative. The book’s rich 70s setting, infused with references to the Bee Gees and the disco craze, adds a vibrant backdrop that enhances the story’s authenticity and appeal. Its exploration of identity, the power of dreams, and the unbreakable bonds of family make it a standout addition to the young adult genre. A heartwarming and inspiring tale that will resonate with readers of all ages.
BLUES JAM by Stephen Rice captures the raw struggles of Sarah, a young drummer battling loss and addiction in Saint Paul, with vivid emotional depth and an authentic love for blues music. The narration brings Sarah’s journey to life with warmth and clarity, and ensures that the soulful atmosphere and the urgency of her story are fully experienced by the reader.
TO DIE IS DIFFERENT THAN SUPPOSED by Alissa Butterworth is a haunting and lyrically written family drama that explores the weight of loss, fractured relationships, and long-buried secrets. Butterworth’s narrative is profoundly atmospheric and emotionally intense, combining keen insight with a residual discomfort, as seen through the Gable siblings’ perspectives. The novel’s exploration of grief and the unbreakable hold of the past is a moving and thought-provoking reading experience.
SINGULARITY by Sherri Fulmer Moorer is an engrossing science fiction novel foreshadowing a world dependent on Artificial Intelligence for survival. The book balances a haunting narration with nuanced characters and varied plot devices while exploring the possibility of full integration with Artificial Intelligence for the complete evolution of humanity, along with possible consequences, such as the extinction of the entire human race. Moorer poses thought-provoking questions and ethical dilemmas as Senara and her husband, Killian (lead AI experts on the team), try to prevent a rushed adoption while considering its effects amid push-backs from those with ulterior motives.